Single-step electrochemical synthesis of zinc oxide nanoflowers and multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanoconjugates

Abstract

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are investigated for use in various biomedical applications such as in the treatment of cancer because of their high targeting potential. Zinc oxide nanomaterials when conjugated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) show enhanced properties. In our present work, nano-conjugation between zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZnO NFs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been successfully achieved. Here, we have used a two-electrode electrochemical setup for preparation as well as conjugation between ZnO nanoflowers and MWNT. The x-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscopy imaging for the ZnO NFs/MWNT nano-conjugate shows the successful synthesis of the nano-conjugate. The electrochemical method used here is a single step, economical, and without the use of any additional surfactant or capping agents. The only use of pure zinc electrodes as a precursor material favors high purity, easy and a less time-consuming purification process.